Safety control for gas governors



Oct. 12,1937. K. s. VAN EPPS 2,095,426

' SAFETY CONTROL FOR GAS GOVERNORS Filed Aug. 17, 1956 f7w 6 72/502? M femzebiziiflwafp os Patented Oct 12, 1937 PATENT OFFICE.

s irE'rY CONTROL FOR ossoovnmvon s Kenneth Van Epps, lVIaywood, Ill.

Application August 1'7, 1936, Serial No. 96,553 4 12 Claims. (01. 48-191 The present invention relates generally to de vices in the nature of governors and the like for controlling the distributionof gas and for controlling the pressure at which the gas is delivered to the consumer.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a control mechanism that insures the closing of the distributing governor or valve, controlling the gas flow, in the event that the outlet pressures become excessive or in the event that, for any reason, control of the valve is interfered with so that it. no longer functions properly. ,Usually gas distribution governors are disposed in governor vaults which, insome instances, may be subject to being flooded by water, and another object of the presentinvention in this connection is to take care of flood water and other irregular conditions by shutting off or closing the gas distribution valve when such conditions occur.

additional object of the present invention is the provision of a control for gas distribution governors that can either take theplace of the present control system or, if desired, may supplant the same and be used as a separate and independent control for the distributing governor valve in the gas main.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art .after'a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred construction, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating such construction.

Figure I illustrates a. safety control, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, which can be used in connection with known gas distribution governors, or which may be .used as an independent control, as desired; and

Figure 2 illustrates a connection that is desirable when my device is used, as an independent control.

The modern gas system is made up of an interconnectednetwork of low pressure gas mains of 7 various sizes known as the distribution system.

Customers services are connected to this network distribution system. The gas supplying the low pressure distribution system is brought into centrally located points by high pressure mains known as the transmission system, which may or may not have network characteristics. The only connections between the transmission system and the distribution system are made at the centrally located points through a pressure reducing mechanism known as a distribution governor which is generally located in an underground vault. The object of this type of system is to eliminate an individual regulator for each customer by substituting a large governor to take care of a large number of customers and over large. areas of the distribution system. These gas distribution governors include valves which are opened and closed by regulator mechanism that is responsive to the outlet pressure at which the gas is ultimately. delivered. For example, in a system with which I am familiar, the gas is supplied to the distribution points at approximately a pressure of five pounds, but as the gas is fedinto the distribution mains, its pressure is reduced to approximately six inches of water by the use ofa distribution governor that is opened and closed by regulating mechanism so as to secure the desired pressure drop.

Referring now to the drawing, the high pressure gas is supplied through a main 1 past a manually controlled shut-off valve 2 to a gas distribution governor that is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 3. Here the pressure is reduced and the gas delivered past a shut-off valve 4 into the. distribution main 5 at a delivery pressure, which may be in the nature of a pressure equal to six inchesv of water, as pointed out above. Asillustrated, the gas distribution governor valve includes a valve body 9 and valve closure means H) in the form of discs H and l2connected to a shiftable valve stem I3,

the upper endof which is pivotally connected, as at I5, to an operating arm or lever 16. The valve body 3 carries a casing 20' in which a governor ,head diaphragm 21 is preferably disposed, the

diaphragm being fastened to the valve stem I3 and not only sealing the movable valve stem to the valve body casing but cooperating with regulating means, tobe described later, in controlling the gas governor valve II]. If desired, however, the diaphragm 2| and associated parts may be eliminated and replaced with a suitable gland of conventional construction.

As heretofore practiced in the art, the valve i is controlled by means that is biased to open the valve, but which may be regulated or closed. by the gas pressure. To this end, the arm or beam I6 is pivotally anchored by means of a link 25 to a lug 26 formed on or carried by the diaphragm casing 29, the beam l6 being pivotally connected at 2B to the link 25, and the latter being pivotally connected at 29 to the lug 26. Upward movement of the lever l6 thus closes the valve I0, and downward movement of the lever opens the valve.

A link 32 is pivotally connected, as at 33, to the outer end of the lever or beam I6 and extends downwardly and is connected through a slip joint 33a at its lower end to a diaphragm 34 forming a part of a control unit 35 that is usually supported on the floor 36 of the gas governor vault 31. The diaphragm 34 is weighted by weights 38 and 39, the former being carried on the diaphragm 34 directly and the other weight being fastened to the lower portion of the link 32. Gas from the high pressure side of the valve Ii] is led into the lower portion or chamber 43 of the unit 35 underneath the die-.-

phragm 34 by means of a conduit or pipe line consisting of the sections M, 42 and 43, and a regulating unit 45. A needle valve 46 is. included in one of the pipe sections and serves to limit the rate of flow from the high pressure side of the governing valve I0 to the controlling'diaphragm 34.

The control unit 45, known as the first au'X- ilia'ry regulator, is of well known construction and includes a diaphragm 50 supported in the central portion of the casing 51 and biased for movement in one direction by a spring 52. The lower side of the diaphragm engages a lever 54 which is pivoted, as at 55, to the casing, and has an end 55 controlling the flow'of gas through the outer end of the pipe section 4|. When the pressure on the low pressure side of the valve '55rises, the diaphragm 50 moves upwardlyand restricts or entirelyseals the flow of gas out of the section 4|. When the pressure falls, the valve 56 is opened and allows a flow of gas to pass into the space under the diaphragm 50. Thus, the unit 45 serves to maintain a certain maximum pressure in the'pipeslea'ding to "the controlling diaphragm 34 which is opposed by the weights 38 and 39, and with a'given amount of weights, or bias, the diaphragm 34 will be held up and will act through the beam I6 to maintain the valve II] in a given position'so long as the pressure in' the chamber 45 is maintained.

Flow of gas from the chamber underneath the diaphragm 34, so as to permit one or both of said weights to swing the arm or beam I6 downwardly and open the'valve I0, is ordinarily under the control of a second auxiliary regulator, indicated in its entirety by 'the reference numeral 60, which is connected into the pipe section "43by 'a pipe GI. The regulator unit 69 is 'well knownand is quite similar to the unit except that the upper part of the casing is open to the atmosphere within the vault, as'indicated .at 62. The unit 65 includes a-diaphragm. 65 upon which one or more weights BI are placed. The diaphragm 65 is connected to a pivoted lever 69, and the latter includes an end II which controls the how of gas outwardly from the chamber 40 through a nozzle I6 to which the -pipe or conduit section GI leads. Interconnected pipes TI and I8 lead from the chamber below the diaphragm 65 to the low pressure side of the gas governor valve I0, thus causing the move ;ment of diaphragm 65 to be in direct accord -with the pressure on the lowpressure side of sure-within the distribution main 5.

The weights 5'! are so adjusted that when the pressure on the low pressure side of the'valve I!) falls, the diaphragm lowers and swings the end II of the lever 69 away from the associated nozzle. whereupon a quantity of gas is "and I02.

bled out of the chamber 40 and into the low pressure mains. Since the gas from the high pressure side can flow into this chamber only at a predetermined rate, less than the outflow, the weights 39 swing the beam I 6 downwardly and this opens the valve I0 and, in turn, acts to build up the pressure within the delivery mains 5 until the flow of gas through the section SI is terminated by the closing of the valve II upon the attainment of the desired delivery pressure. By this means, the position of the distribution governor valve I0 is controlled in accordance with the pressure on the low side of the valve so as to maintain that pressure substantially uniform.

One disadvantage of the control means that has just been described is that in order to secure the necessary sensitivity, the diaphragm 50 and must be soft and flexible, usually being made of sheepskin or similar material and replaced once a year. Also, upon any failure of the regulating unit 45 or 69 of the main operating diaphragm 34, the weights 38 and 39 will'drop, thus opening the valve II]. This is an-undesirable feature, for in the event of such failure, uncontrolled quantities of gas would pass from the high pressure side into the low pressure side of the system and would disturb pressure conditions for a considerable area throughout the latter. Further, any increase in delivery pressure above the normal desired pressure cannot operate 'to close the governor valve I0.

According to the principles of the present invention, means has been provided to serve as a safety control for the above described mechanism so that in the event of failure of such mechanism, the distributing governor valve will not be opened wide but will be closed either fully or partially, as may be required. Also, as will be described later, the control means-constituting the principal part of the present invention may be used, where desired, to supplant the gas distribution control system described above.

A second diaphragm unit is anchored to'the roof of the vault Hand is preferably, but not of the governor valve I0 'bymeans of a tube 93in which an orifice 94 is placed, the tube and'orifice -serving to limit the rate of flow of gas'from'the high pressure side of the-valve I'IJ'to'the chamber '92 formed by the diaphragm 9I and the associated portions of the'casing 95 of'the unit 90.

A stem 91 extends downwardly from the diaphragm 9| and has a plate 98 fixed'thereto which 'is movable along a pair-of long anchoring bolts NH and I02 carried by and fixed, as at I03 and 64, to the lower part of the casing 95. A pair of relatively heavy springs I01 and I98 are disposed about the lower portions of the anchoring bolts IIlI and I02, and the springs I01 and I08 are compressed between the plate 98 and adjusting nuts III! and III at the lower ends of the bolts IIJI The stem 9'! is extended downwardly below the springs I3! and I08, and, in the preferred form of the present invention, is provided "with'a bifurcated and slotted section I I5 embracing the outermost end'of the valve controlling arm or beam I 9. The outer end .of"thelatter carries a pin II! that is disposedintheslots in the lower end II5 of the stem .97. Theslotsin the section I I5 form a lost motion connection be tween the stem 9'! and the controlling "arm'I6.'

permitting the control of the-valveto be performed by the diaphragm 34 and associated mechanism, but providing for the replacement of such control whenever the stem 91 is moved, either by the diaphragm 9| or the springs I01 and I08, farther than the extent of the slotted-portions of the stem section II5. i

The flow of gas from the chamber.92*is controlled by a regulator that is indicated; in its entirety by the reference numeral I25, and-is con nectedwith the chamber 92 by a tube 'I2 6-and I26 and the nozzle or orifice I40.

with the low pressure side of the valve I0 by a pipe connection I21. The regulator I25 consists of two units, I3I and I32, operative-1y interconnected together aswill be described later." The unit I3I is quite similar in physical construction to the regulator 60, but is larger and of sturdier construction. The unit I3I includes a casing I in which the diaphragm I36 is disposed and is provided with weights I31 to fix or control theresponsiveness of the diaphragm. Thecasing I35 communicates with the low pressure side of the system by means of the pipe I 21 mentioned above, and with the chamber 92 through the tube The flow of gas through the orifice ornozzle is controlled by .a pivoted lever I4I having one end connected with the diaphragm l36 to be actuated thereby, and the other end disposed in operative associawithin the vault and the pressure of the gas on the low pressure side of the governing valve I0.

Preferably, both of the diaphragms 9.I. and I36 are made of extra heavy rubber duct" ply material/ v When the safety control means of the present invention is used in conjunction withthe known regulating mechanism, the weights I31 are adjusted soas to make the unit I3Iresponsive to a slightly higher pressure than the normal pressure on the low pressure side of the valve I0, usually in the natureof six inches of water, as determined by the regulator 60. Thus, normally, the orifice I is kept closed at allftimes, and since no gas can escape from the chamber 92, gas

from the high pressure side flows through the tube 93 and into the chamber 92, forcing the diaphragm 9| downwardly and compressing the springs I01 and I08 and permitting the beam I6 to be controlled by the diaphragm 34. However,

the occurrence of an abnormal increase-in-the pressure of gas on the low pressure side of the 'valve I0 will cause the weights I31 to be lifted,

and this opens the orifice I40 and bleeds oil a quantity of gas from the chamber 92. The resulting lowered pressure at this point permitsthe springs I01 and I08 to expand, which'forces the "stem 91 upwardly and raises the beam'I6 and closesthe valve I0 entirely independently. of the position of the diaphragm 34, by virtue of the above described slip joint 33a.. Normally, this will reduce the pressure on the low pressure side side of the governor valve acting-against the diaphragm 9 I.

Thus the springs I01 and I08 serve as biased means that is normally held inactiveor the valve.

ditions from thus destroying all control and leavcompressed by the pressure of the gas from the high pressure side of the valve I0 but which becomes immediately available under abnormal con-- ditions, such as the above mentioned pressure rise, to' 'close the valve I0, entirely irrespective of the position of thediaphragm' 34. The unit l3I so'regjiilates the gas pressure within the chamber 92 that the bleeding oil of the gas-is in direct proportionto the outlet pressure on the low pressure side of the valve I0. This control regulates theoutlet pressure of thegovernor to small variations, and, if desired, can be made to entirely supplant the diaphragm 34 and the units and 66 by merely pivoting the outer end of the beam to the--stern 91,'-as illustrated fragmentarily in Figure 2} In Figure 2, the stem that is pivotally connected to the beam or lever I6 is indicated at 910. and, at its lower end, carries a yoke Ithat is connected by a pivot pin I5I to the outer end of the-beam I6.- r

Under certain conditions the vault 31 may be flooded by water from storm sewers or some other source, and it has sometimes occurred that water gets into the space above the diaphragm 34 and forces it down, thus holding the'valve I6 open and destroying all effective control :that the units 45 and normally exert upon it. Also, if the unit 60 should be submerged, water above the diaphragm will force the latter down and will open" the orifice 16 and permit gas to fiow from underneath the-diaphragm 34 into the low pressure side of the Valve I0, and this reduction of'pressure permits the weights 3B and 39 to open In order to prevent flooded vault con-- wardly. Like the diaphragmsBI and I36, the dia-- phragm I62 may be of extra heavy rubber duct material as sensitivity is not necessary.

In case of fiood Water rising in the vault, the safety control operates under normal conditions until the water level reaches the diaphragm I62 through the openings I6I. The casing I60 is open-so that when the Water level rises beyond the diaphragm I62 the head of water applied against the bottom of the same lifts the upper diaphragm I36 and the weight I31 thereon and opens the orifice I40. This permits the gas above the diaphragm 9| to be bled 01f and thus releases the springs I01 and I08 and permits them to raise the beam I6 and close the valve I0 in substantially the same manner that the valve is closed when there is an abnormal increase in the outlet pressure on the low pressure side of the valve I0. The lower diaphragm I62 is larger than the upper diaphragm I36, so that even though both units I3! and I32 are submerged,

there is still sufilcient head of liquid applied against the lower diaphragm I62 to release the springs I 01 and I08, for the effective water presbe made, if so desired, to prevent the governor valve from being completely closed during flooded conditions.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employedin the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A control for gas distribution systems, comprisinga governing valve, means biased to close said valve, means in direct communication with the gas pressure on the high pressure side of said valve for opposing said biased means and opening said valve, and a regulator responsive to gas pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for controlling the pressure opposing said biased means.

2. A control for gas distribution systems, comprising a governing valve, means biased toclose said valve, means in direct, communication with the gas pressure on the high pressure side of said valve for opposing said biased means and opening said valve, and a regulator responsive to gas pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for relieving the pressure opposing said biased means and providing for the operation of the latter to move said valve toward its closed position upon the occurrence of an increase in pressure on the low pressure side of said valve.

3. Gas distribution governormechanism, comprising valve means controlling the gas fiow, means biasing said valve means for movement toward closed position, a chamber including a movable wall connected to open said valve against the force of said biasing'means, a conduit having a metering orifice for conducting gas from the high pressure side of said valve at a limited .rate of flow into said chamber, a second conduit conducting gas from said chamber to the low pressure side of said valve, and means responsive to an increase in pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for bleeding gas from said chamber and permitting said biased means to move said valve toward its closed position.

4. A control for gas distribution systems, comprising a valve for governing gas flow, a vault housing said valve, means responsive to gas pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for controlling the position of the latter, and means responsive to a given liquid head in said vault for closing said valve independently of the gas pressure on the low pressure side of said valve.

5. A control for gas distribution systems, comprising a vault, a gas distribution governor in said vault serving to maintain a given pressure in the low pressure mains above atmospheric pressure and including a valve-and a valve controlling part open to atmospheric pressure in said vault, and means including a pressure sensitive part in said vault below and independently of said first part for closing said valve in response to a given head of liquid in said vault.

6. In a gas distributionsystem, the combination with a gas governor comprising a valve, means actuated by the pressure on the high pressure side of said valve for closing said valve,

sure side of said valve for holding said biased means against closing said valve so long as the proper pressure conditions exist on the low pressure side of said valve.

'7. Ina gas distribution system, the combination with .a gas governor comprising a valve, biased means normally adapted to open said valve, means'actuated by the pressure on the high pressure side of said valve for closing said valve against the force of said biased means, and means responsive to the attainment of a given pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for operating said pressure actuated means, of a safety control for said governor comprising means normally biased to overcome said first named biasedmeans and close said valve, and means responsive to the attainment of a pressure on the low pressure side of the valve in excess of said given pressure for causing the safety control biased means to overcome said first named biased means and close said valve against the force of the latter.

8. In a gas distribution system including a vault into which gas mains extend, the combination with a gas governor comprising a valve and pressure responsive diaphragm means disposed in the lower part of said vault. and connected to close said valve, of a safety control for said governor comprising mechanism for shifting said valve and means responsive to a given head of water insaid vault for causing said mechanism to close said valve independently of the position of said diaphragm.

9. Ina gas distribution system, the combination with a gas governor comprising a valve and valve to shift the same, means actuated by the pressure on the high pressure side of said valve for moving said arm to control the position of said valve, and regulator means acting against said pressure for controlling the position of said valve, of a safety control for said governor comprising a movable part having a lost motion connection with said arm, means biasing said part and capable of exerting sufficient force through the latter to shift said arm and valve against the force of said pressure actuated means after said lost motion has been taken up, and means responsive to the pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for normally holding said biased part against movement, said lost motion means providing for the control of said valve by said governor.

11. In a gas distribution system including a vault into .which gas mains extend, governor mechanism. comprising a valve, pressure responsive means for shifting said valve, means open to the atmosphere in said vault for controlling the application of pressure to said pressure responsive means in accordance with the difference between atmospheric pressure in said vault and.

the pressure on one side of said valve, and

means open to the atmosphere in said vault below said pressure controlling means and responsive to a head of liquid against the lower side thereof for closing said valve.

12. Control mechanism for a gas distribution valve, comprising a chamber having a movable Wall and communicating with the high pressure side of said valve, means connecting said movable wall with said valve, spring means connected with said movable wall and adaptedto yieldingly oppose the movement thereof when the pressure from the high pressure side of said valve acts against said movable wall, and regulator means responsive to the pressure on the low pressure side of said valve for opening communication between said chamber and the low pressure side of said valve and closing the latter through the action of said spring means against said movable wall.

KENNETH S. VAN EPPS! 

